The Downs at Albuquerque has released its stakes schedule for its 57-day meet, which opens on Friday, August 2.

A total of 33 stakes worth approximately $1.2 million have been scheduled by racing secretary Jim Collins, 19 for Thoroughbreds and 14 for Quarter Horses, beginning with the 6-furlong, $25,000-guaranteed A.C. Kemp Stakes for 2-year-olds on opening day.

Once again, the highlight of The Downs at Albuquerque season will be the Lineage races for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, which will be run during the weekend of August 24-25. Six Thoroughbred stakes worth $185,000, topped by the 1 1/16-mile, $35,000 Lineage Stakes (R) are slated for August 24 and will be followed by five Quarter Horse stakes worth $150,000, headed by the 400-yard, $35,000 Lineage Championship (RG3), on August 25.

The Downs at Albuquerque season includes a 17-day New Mexico State Fair meet in September. The highlights of the State Fair portion of the meet include the 400-yard, $85,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Senor Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-olds colts and geldings, and the 400-yard, $85,000-est. New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) for state-bred 2-year-old fillies on Saturday, September 21, and the 6-furlong, $80,000-est. Dessie & Fern Sawyer Futurity (R) for state-bred 2-year-old fillies, and the 6-furlong, $80,000-est. George Maloof Futurity (R) for state-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings on Sunday, September 22.

The New Mexico State Fair Futurity for Quarter Horses has a rich history that dates back to its inaugural running in 1946; past winners include American Quarter Horse Association champions Maddon's Bright Eyes (1948), Black Easter Bunny ('51), and Now I Know ('95). The race has been run in separate divisions for colts and geldings (Senor) and fillies (Senorita) since 1991.

Another highlight of The Downs' schedule, the 220-yard, $45,000-est. Zoom Zoom Zoom Stakes, is slated for Saturday, September 28. The race is expected to draw some of the best Quarter Horses in the southwest region.

The Downs at Albuquerque meet runs through Wednesday, October 30. Live racing will take place on a Wednesday and Friday-through-Sunday schedule, with the exception of the State Fair portion of the season, which will feature live racing every day from September 11-22.

Post time for the first race will be 1:30 p.m. (MDT) on weekends and 2:30 on weekdays. For more information, visit The Downs at Albuquerque's revamped website at www.abqdowns.com, and click on the “Racetrack” link at the top of the homepage.

In The News

Regal First Moon, a brown daughter of champion First Moonflash owned by Regal Racing Stables LLC, is one of seven state-bred 3-year-olds entered in Sunday’s $50,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Stakes (RG3) at SunRay Park.

Carson City Girl, a homebred daughter of Woodbridge and the fastest qualifier, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s 400-yard, $379,896 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs, one of 12 state-bred stakes to be run at Ruidoso this weekend. The races are part of the track’s annual Zia Festival, which celebrates all things New Mexico, including New Mexico-made products and arts and crafts.

Rapping Mary, a stakes-winning daughter of the Monarchos stallion Rapper S S racing for Bennie Vanacek, is one of 10 New Mexico-bred 2-year-old fillies who will make their next starts in the July 25, $165,771 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs.